Children younger than 13 should be allowed to use Facebook

Introduction
Facebook is the most popular social network in the world. Facebook allows users to connect with old and new friends through pictures and status updates. The current minimum age for Facebook users is 13. Today our debaters will discuss whether children younger than the age of 13 should be allowed to use Facebook.

Constructive
Debater 1 Henry
Children younger than 13 years old should be allowed to use Facebook. Facebook is a great way to connect with friends and family members all over the world. Many children ages nine to 12 already have their own cell phones. Many are also already connecting with their friends through online and mobile chats. Therefore, it does not make sense to forbid them from using Facebook. However, parents should check to make sure that kids are using Facebook safely.

Debater 2 Ashley
Children younger than 13 years old should not be allowed to use Facebook. Facebook can be an unsafe service for young users to use. First, many young users do not know how to safely use social networks. They may post their locations, private information, or photos on their Facebook pages. They may also accept strangers as their friends. Kids should wait until they are 13 to use Facebook. They should also learn how to use it safely.

Rebuttal
Debater 1 Henry
Kids younger than 13 can use Facebook, but they should learn how to use it safely first. Kids from nine to 12 years old are old enough to learn safety tips for using Facebook. It is better for them to learn these Internet safety tips at a young age. Parents teach their toddlers to avoid strangers on the street. Parents should now teach their kids to avoid strangers online as well.

Debater 2 Ashley
Kids are getting too hooked on technology at such a young age these days. Just because younger kids have cell phones and use online and mobile chats does not mean that they should also use Facebook. Not all parents will be able to check whether their kids are using Facebook safely. Therefore, it is better for parents to forbid Facebook until kids are old enough to use it safely on their own.

Judge’s Comments
The winner of today’s debate is Ashley. Henry committed the debate fallacy called bad analogy. Debaters commit this fallacy when they put different things in the same category even though they are not the same. For example, Henry said that kids are able to use cell phones and online and mobile chats, and therefore should also be able to use Facebook. Having a cell phone and chatting are not the same as using Facebook.


Karen Lee
For The Junior Times
(ttt@timescore.co.kr)